Hes Just Not That Into You

Or Maybe He's Just Baffled by Your Hairstyle?

Women are a colorful and complex species that can change their spots on a dime, thanks to concealer and other beauty innovations. Our highly evolved brains can spend hours mulling over how to style our hair— and a lifetime decoding the meaning of "I'll call you later." When "later" turns out to be next week, a trip to the cosmetics counter is sure to distract our swirling thoughts, but sometimes "later" means never and we can't help but overanalyze what went awry.

... Was it my bad hair day?...Should I have acted more interested, or harder-to-get? ... Did he lose my number?... Hello!? Is this cell phone working? ...

Since the eternal optimists (or are they delusionists?) among us will never be able to turn off their chatty inner monologues, we offer a host of beauty tips that will at least eliminate the "Was it my bad hair day?" kind of questions from their "what-if?" list.

Savvy seductresses know lips are weapons of mass seduction and treat them as such. Since dryness can cause your kisser to appear thin and cracked, keep it hydrated with a balm. In a pinch, slough off dead skin with a soft toothbrush, a damp wash cloth or even a wet flannel shirt. As a general rule of thumb, resist the urge to wet them with your tongue (it offers temporary relief but makes them crack). Also avoid cigarettes, known to cause creases around the mouth and ashy breath—both of which are turnoffs.

Lightweight gloss—the kind that doesn't stick to loose strands of hair—is a precious commodity. Nothing ruins a sweet first kiss faster than a mouthful of a heavy, glue-like substance, especially if it tastes bad to boot. If you predict he'll be moving in for your mouth, skip the gloss altogether or opt for a fruit-flavored variety to make your makeout session truly yummy.

It's beauty's cardinal sin: In an attempt to pump up the volume on skimpy lashes, many women resort to multiple coats of mascara. The result? Goopy, gunky, ghastly lashes resembling the legs of a black widow spider. Brush on waterproof mascara—not only does it retain the curl of your lashes, it will prevent smearing, smudging and flaking if replaced every three months. To remove clumps without causing flakes to fall beneath your eyes, brush a clean spooley brush through lashes while mascara is still wet.

Men like shiny, healthy, soft, deliciously-scented hair that they can run their hands through (if you have any doubts, please refer to the Victoria's Secret catalog). While a dime-size dollop of smoothing serum will do you good, mousses, sprays and molds should be used with caution—or not at all, if you're planning an intimate rendezvous a deux. Fun fact: Fellas also happen to like how your locks look—all tousled and playful and s-e-x-y—when you first wake up in the morning. Try recreating this look in the evening, as if you've just had a romp in the hay. Leave Velcro rollers in freshly washed hair for 20 minutes, and toss your hair upside down upon removal. Don't brush your locks, instead use your hands to ruffle the roots for extra volume before you head out the door.

No matter how fair you are, flesh-colored foundation has a tendency to get all over his pillowcases, his freshly-pressed white shirt, and his face if you've been marathon-canoodling. And what about those bad days when it runs down the side of your face, or you leave the house without blending properly (this can be just as embarrassing for him as it is for you)? For a fast fix, first apply a foundation primer to clean, bare skin. Mix three parts liquid foundation with one part moisturizer to make it blend easily while still perfecting the tone and texture of your face. Apply it with a slightly damp alcone sponge (in a circular motion) to avoid streaking.

You call it "artistic application," he calls it unsightly. Intensely bright or contoured cheeks belong on BoBo the Clown and babydolls, so be sure to apply yours with caution, preferably in natural daylight. If you wait to apply it until you've finished your eyes and lips, you will find you actually need less to look radiant and put-together. If blush looks too dark, too bright or muddied—and you're too rushed to undertake a complete re-do using makeup remover and water—lightly swipe your cheeks with a clean brush, a cotton ball or a nonlatex wedge sponge. These tools don't streak or leave behind lint like some tissues can, and are adept at lifting color. --Stephanie Simons